Bicycle.



W. ROBINSON.

BICYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 8,'1897.

31 @g Patented July 8, 1913.

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W. ROBINSON.

BICYCLE.

APPLIUA-TION FILED our. 8, 1897.

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Patented July 8, 1913.

W ROBINSON.

BICYCLE.

' APPLIOATIONPILED 001'. a, 1897.

Patented July 8, .1913

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INvENTuR':

proved Bicycle, of

partly in section. end of the hub of the driving the machine understood from the brake mechanism to WILLIAM ROBINSON,

0F BOSTON MASSACHUSET BICYCLE.

. To all wit-0m it may concern: Be itknown that I, I/VILLIAM ROBINSON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Im which the following is a specificatio y invention includes means for driving without the intervention of a chain.

It also embodies an automatic brake mechanism.

' The nature of my invention will be clearly description which fol lows, reference being had to the a.ccom-' panying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- -Fi'gure I is a side elevation showing the working mechanism of a bicycle embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. II shows a portion of the reverse side of the bicycle, illustrating the application of the the rear or driving wheel hub of the machine. F ig. III is a detail side view of the brake fixture, to be secured to the rear fork of the frame, and Fig. IV is an edge or end view of the same. Fig. V VI is a similar view showing an alternative distribution of the driving mechanism; Fig.

' IIis a side view, partly in section, of the ball-bearing eccentric, used in Fig. VI, and Fig. VIII is an edge view of the same, Fig. IX represents one wheel, showing the exterior of the brake mechanism attached thereto; Fig. X is a cross section through the dotted lines a: c, Fig.

clutch, partly in dotted outline. a vertical, longitudinal section Fig. XIII shows the brake clutch center, with its balls or rollers, Fig. is a section through 12 1 Fig. XIII, Fig. XV is a side view showing the brake' clutch case with one side open, and Fig. XVI is an ex terior edge view of the same inclosed. Fig. XVII shows one end of the driving hub provided with two, driving clutches, identicat in construction, arranged as in Fig. I, Fig. XVIII is a cross section on the line 2 a 'Fig. XVII showing the interior construction of said dpivingeclutch, Fig. XIX is Fig. XII is of Fig. IX,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 8, 189?.

is a plan view of Fig. I; Fig.

ing wheel I) is thus driven IX, and.

' Fig. XI is a side view illustrating the brake grip between the motion has beenflmparted to the clutch ring--01 beheld at .will confinuesame, that is the free to coast forward without from the driving clutches.

Patented July 8, Serial No. 654,532.

a cross section on the line w as, Fig. XVIII, and Fig. XX is a similar view showing an increased bearing surface for the balls.

represents a bicycle having the frame B provided with the cranks C, C connected by the crank shaft a in any usual or suitable manner. The rear or driving wheel D, with its hub H, is also mounted in the frame B as shown. The upper portions of the bicycle frame are omitted for the purpose of'illuss trating more clearly the working parts.

he frame B is provided with the sup plemental ball bearing hanger E, parallel to the usual crank hanger K and conveniently located near the angle formed by the saddle post F and the lower rear fork sides Z) 6, but preferably in the line of said saddle post,'and rigidly secured thereto, or forming a part thereof, as shown.

The hub H is provided with the clutches G, G consisting essentially of the inner hardened ring 0 rigidly secured to the hub H, the outer-ring (Z provided with the inner curving or wedged shaped recesses d, and the balls or rollers e 6 located within said recesses cl, between said rings 0 and (Z, and arranged to lock said rings together and to release the same, according to the relative position of said balls within said recesses.

It is evident that when the clutch ring (Z is moved gin the direction 'of the arrow .2 the balls 6 e are wedged between the fixed inner ring 0 and the outer ring cl, locking said rings together, and consequently thehub H is thus caused to revolve, that is, the drivforward. It is outer ring (Z is also evident that when the moved in the reverse direction relatively to the hub H the balls 6 6 move to the widest ends of the recesses a? (2, thus releasing the Thus a to and fro H. It will be observed alsogthat when a revolving driving the wheel D' it rest the hub H revolve freely within the driving wheel is always interference As shownin-Fig. XX the clutch rings '6' said rings cand (Z and permitting them to revolve freely with reference to each other. movement of the clutch ring'rl alternately clutches and releases the hub and dare provided with grooves c d for he balls 0 thus giving the latter a greater frictional gripping surface.

The working parts of the clutch G are inclosed by side plates 6.

The bearing clutch ring 0 is made separate from the hub H for convenience of hardening and replacing when worn. If the peripheral surface of the hub were suitable, it might be used directly as a bearing surface for the clutch without the intervention of the separate ring 0.

The crank shaft a is provided with the driving spur gear I which meshes with the pinion f, which latter is mounted on the intermediate axle or countershaft f revolving on ball bearings within the hanger E.

The connecting rod 2' has one end it. pivotally connected to the crank g on the axle f as shown at Z, while the opposite end h is pivotally connected to the projection or lug 72 of the hub clutch G, as shown at Z. In like manner the connecting rod 2" (Figs. I and V) has one end pivotally connected to the rod 2' near the inner end it thereof, as shown at m, and its opposite end pivotally connected to the lug laof the hub clutch G, as shown at m. The clutches G and G are identical in construction, but, as shown in Figs. I, V, and XVII, one is operated from above and the other from below the hub H. The operation is as follows: \Vhen the gear I is turned forward by the movement of the cranks C C the pinion f, with which it meshes is revolved in the reverse direc tion, thus revolving the axle f with its crank g. The revolving of said crank g, as

is evident, causes reciprocating movement in' the driving rods hi.- The backward movement of the rodz' causes the clutch G to grip the hub H and to revolve the same, driving the wheel forward, while the simultaneous backward movement of the rod 2" releases the hold of the clutch G on the hub and pushes said clutch backward to the position shown in Fig. I ready to take a new grip on said hub. As soon as the crank g passes its center the initial forward movement of the rod z releases the hold of the clutch G upon the hub H, and at the same instant the clutch G clutches said hub continuing the revolution of the same and the forward movement of the wheel. The clutch G retains its grip on the hub during the forward movement of the rod 2', that is, throughout the forward half revolution of the crank 5 while during the same space the grip of the clutch G is released from said hub. In like manner the grip of the clutch G is released from the hub while the clutch iirclutches and retains its grip upon said hub, throughout the backward half revolution of said crank Thus the alternate clutching and releasing of the hub and reciprocating movement of said clutches G G thereon produce a continuous forward movement of the driving wheel. It will be unwheel is thus free to coast it is necessary to provide means for controlling and stopping it. I therefore provide an automatic brake applied to the hub and operated by back pedaling, as will be understood from the following specific description.

L is a barrel or drum secured is removably secured to the frame, being held in place by its plO]6CtlOIl a engaging the jaws 0 of the rear forks 0 and by the wheel axle 7) passing through the orifice p of said fixture n.

One end of the expanding ring or device 9 engages or abuts against the outer end, or a shoulder n of the fixture a, while the lug r is secured to, or engages, the opposite end of said expanding ring 9. The latter, together with a portion of the fixture n, is inclosed within the said barrel or drum L, said expanding ring being normally located in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of the barrel L, as illustrated, especially in Figs. X and XII.

The brake clutch N has its clutch. center 8 provided with grooves or recesses s for the balls or rollers t, and is mounted rigidly on the axle f, and, with its balls Z, is inclosed peripherally by the clutch ring M, as shown.

The clutch ring M is provided with the lug to the huh H and revolving therewith. The fixture n oppositeends pivot-ally connected to said lugs as shown at r, t.

The operation is as follows: When the wheel and the driving cranks C C are movlng forward the pinion f with its axle f and the brake clutch center 8, secured to said axle, are revolving in the reverse direction,

that is, in the direction of the arrow 4/,

Fig. XI. It is evident therefore that when or abrupt shoulders 23" of the clutch center 8, and said clutch center s revolves freely within the ring or case M without operating or affecting the brake. When, however, back pressure is applied to the driving cranks the axle f and clutch center 8 are of course revolved in the opposite direction, forcing the balis 23 into narrower portions of the recesses .9 thus locking the clutch center drum L."

It is evident that by regulating the back pressure on the pedals the braking pressure exerted by the brake mechanism can be reg- I ulated perfectly, and this brake may be op- -erated with equal facility by a child or by a heavy man without any differential adjustment of the mechanism. Furthermore, as the leverage applied to thebraking shaft f is multiplied it is evident that, however fast the wheel may be traveling, as great braking pressure may be instantly applied,

. preferably in the same if desired, for stopping the wheel as is applied for driving the same.

The open face of the brake L is inclo-sed by the cap u when said brake is inposition, and, in like manner, the face of the clutch N 'is'covered by the cap or case 21..

As shown in Fig. VII the clutch G, with its connecting rod 2', is transferred to the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. I. In this case the connecting rod e" is secured to the eccentric P mounted on the countershaft or axle f. For the purpose of diminishing friction I prefer to make this eccentric P of a circulnferentially grooved center '2) and the case '0 with the balls wbetween them, thus' forming a ball bearing eccentric.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. VI the connecting rod 71 is connected to the lug k of the clutch G above the hub H, and the crank g and the eccentric P are mounted on the axle f with their longitudinal centers plane buton opposite sides of their axle f. Thus the wheel D is driven by the alternate pulling movement of the connecting rods 2' 2" upon their respectivehub clutches G G. This arrangement of connecting rods and clutches has the ad-' vantage that both of the connecting rods are located entirely above the. rear fork sides 7) I), that both the driving clutches are located at equal distances from the center of p i the hub H and both of said connecting rods z z" do their work by pulling. On the other hand the eccentric construction described renders the driving mechanism perhaps somewhat more complicated than that illustrated in Fig. I. When thought desirable, however, the driving hub may be provided with three or four driving clutches, two as shown in Fig. I and one or two on the opposite side of the machine connected to and operated by the eccentric P. In thiswaya uniform driving pressure may be applied to both ends of the driving hub simultaneously; orlbjr qu arteri,ng""the crank and cowork at the moment one on the opposite side has reached its maxiniiiiii ievcrage and efficiency.

- The clutc'hes G G are held in proper position on the hubH by the shoulder a and the washers or nuts I). i

The brake mechanism shown in Figs. X and XII is intended to illustrate a convenient device to be used in carrying out my invention, but I do not intend to limit myself to this particular form of brake, but may use other forms. In like manner I may use other forms of driving and brake clutches without interfering with the spirit of my invention.

It will be observed that in the hub clutch G the inner, annular ball seat 0, that is, the revolving part of the clutch, is plain or part c of said clutch, is provided with ball or roller retaining recesses 05. Onthe contrary, in the brake operating clutch N the inner or revolving part .9 provided with the ball-retaining recesses 8', while the outer ring or case M has a plain or regular inner peripheral surface. That is, in each instance, the driving or power-transmitting part of :the clutch is the part provided with the ball or roller retaining recesses.

It will be observed that when the crank gear is turned backward, in back pedaling, the gearmeshingtherewith is rotated forward, locking the braking clutch and drawing the brake rod forward as heretofore set forth. The forward movement of said, rod draws the free end of the split brake ring forward as shown, whereby the pressure on the free end of said brake ring, in applying the brake, is exerted in a directioncoinciding with the direction offorward rotation of the wheel. By this construction and arrangement the forward rotation of the wheel is caused to enhance the braking pressure of the brake applied thereto,

since said forward rotation of the wheel tends to press the braking element forward against an unyielding fixture.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hub brake, a coasting wheel hub provided on its inner periphery with a braking surface, a non-rotatable fixture supported at one point by the stationary axle and provided with a projection for connection with the frame of the vehicle at a dis: tance from said axle, a movable braking element held in non-rotatable position by said fixture, driving 'means,and means for forcing theouter surface of said movable element against said braking surface of the hub on reversing the movement of saiddriving means. v 2. The combination of a stationary sup-' 1 the forward rotation of said hub.

porting shaft, a driving and coasting wheel hub rotatably supported thereon and provided with a driver, and on its interior with a braking surface, means for automatically clutching together said driver and hub for driving and releasing the same for coasting, a driving or crank shaft, a stationary fixture supported at one point by said supporting shaftand having an extension engaging the vehicle frame at a distance from said supporting shaft, anon-rotatable movable brak- "ing elementheld in position by said stationsaid anchoring plate, driving means, and

means actuated by reversing said driving means, for forcing said movable braking element outwardly against said braking surface of the hub by pressure exerted upon said movable braking element in the direction of 4. In a hub brake, a coasting wheel hub provided on its interior with a braking surface, a stationary fixture supported at one point by the wheel axle and engaging the frame of the vehicle at a distance therefrom,

a movable braking element connected nonrotatably tosaid stationary fixture, a driving crank shaft, means for connecting said crank shaft to said hub for. driving and disconnecting the same for coasting, means for pressing said movable braking element outwardly against said braking surface of the hubbythe reverse movement of said crank shaft, and means for causing the direction of said pressure to coincide with the direc- 15011; of the forward rotation of said wheel 11 i 5. The combination of a stationary supporting shaft, a coalst-ing wheel hub revos lubly supported thereon and provided with an inner peripheral braking surface, a braking' device embodying a spring braking member radially expansible and applicable to said brakingsurface'of the hub, and

means for supporting said spring braking member in non-rotatable position, driving means, means for expandmg said spring "braking member outwardly into braking contact w'ithesaid braking surface. of the hub on the reverse movement of said driving means, the contractile force of said spring braking member releasing said brake mecha-,

nismon the forward movement of said drivin'g means.

6. A self-contained coaster-brake, com-- prising a continuous stationary axle adapted to be fixed to the rear frame of a bicycle or similar vehicle, a rotary wheel hub mounted on the axle, a braking surface carried by said hub within such rear frame, a brake-holder on the axle independent of the frame of a vehicle, having means to engage such vehicle frame adjacent to the axle to prevent rotation of said brake-holder, a movable brake connected with the brake-holder and adapted to cooperate with said hub braking surface, a driver having rotativemotion about the axis of said hub, and a releasable forward grikye connection between the driver and the 8. A self-contained coasterbrake, comprising a rotary wheel hub, a braking surface thereon, a continuous stationary axle passing through said hub and projecting therefrom at each end, a brake-holder on the axle having means to engage a vehicle frame adjacent to the axle to prevent rotation of the brake-holder, a band-brake adapted to cooperate with said braking surface and having one end connected with said brakeholder, a driver having 'rotative motion about the axis of said hub, and a releasable forward-driving connection betweenv the driver and the hub.

9. Coaster-brake mechanism, comprising a rotary wheel hub, a braking surface thereon, a continuous stationary'axle passing through said hub and projecting therefromv at the ends, a brake-holder on the axle having means to engage a vehicle frame to prevent rotation of the brake-holder, a brake connected with the brake-holder and adapted to cooperate with said hub-braking surface, driving means, a releasable driving connection between said driving means and the hub, and means actuated by reverse movement of the driving means for applying the brake.

10. Ina bicycle, in combination, a coasting wheel hub having anvinner braking surface, a stationary braking element, a movable braking element radially extensible against said braking surface of the hub and retained in non-rotatable position by said stationary element, driving means embodying a'drivmg or crank-shaft, means for actuating said brake mechanism on reversing the movement of said driving means, and means intermediate said driving means andvsaid movable braking element to convert the backward 5 pressure of said driving means into forward V outward 1 pressure when exerted upon sa d radially extensible braking element, in applyin the brake. v

11.?[n a bicycle a wheel, hub having a 10 braking surface at one side of its center, a driver at the opposite slde of its center, a

brake cooperating with said braking surface,

the brake.

'a pivoted brake operating member angularly 'movable about its center in the direc- -tion 0f forward rotation of the Wheel to apply the brake, a drive shaft-and connections whereby pressure on the drive shaft in one direction rotates the wheel forwardly and means whereby. back pedaling -applies WILLIAM ROBINSON. Witnesses: v

1 Fmmcrs E. SMITH, CHAs. F. A. SMITH.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner or Patents,

' Washington, DJQ. 

